Game apparatus.



, 15.815,204. PATENTBD-MAR. 13, 1.9o6.

-----W. c. MQDOWLLL.v

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, l, 1905.

' PATENTED MAR. 13,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W C MQDOWBLL GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION IEILIII)v FII-113.1. 1905.

: I 'MEZ im roved game apparatus.

WILLIAM c. MCDOWELL, OE EEAVEE; PENNSYLVANIA GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed February 1, 1905- Serial No. 243,672.

To all whom t may concern/:

' Beit known that I, WILLIAM CgMcDowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver, in the county of- Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin s, formingpart of the specication, in whic Figure 1 is a view in front elevation ofmy Fig. 2 is a vertica vsectional deta view on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view showing van adjustable deflector-.point.. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on theline V V of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view at right angles thereto on kthe line VI VI of Fig. 5 from the back. Fig. .7 is a perspective detail view of the check-actuated interfering mechanism.

My invention refers to -a game ap aratus 'wherein a check is introduced into t e machine and then propelled upwardly by Va shooter mechanism into a narrow space pro- .vided with a series of interfering obstructionsand receiving-pockets.

The object of the device is to provide a mechanism requiring skilliand deftness in. Ipropeller orto alight,if

manipulation of the check shooter, vso as to cause the chec j possible, in a receiving-pocketlocated at the upper portion of theA apparatus, beyond the path lo the interfering o structions, or, failing that, to cause the check to fallin such a manner as to finally become pocketed in one of the numbered receptacles rather than in a blank receptacle, r

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the main case of the machine, built -of wood or metal,

provided in the lower portion with a space adapted to receive a drawer 3 having a series of transverse partitions 4, providing separated pockets adapted to receive the various checks and to separate them in such a manner thatthey may all be counted at the completion of the game or operation.

Projectin above the base of the machine is a front or ase board 5, preferably inclined, as shown, beyond which is a glass partition 6, thus leaving an intervening narrow space 7 of sufficient width to permit the free travel of the check or disk with which the machine is operated.

8 is a receiving-slot (bearing the tally-num- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13, 1906.

berv5, Fig. 1) located behind an arrestingi plate and leading downwardly through a chuteQ, as shown in Fig. 5, and terminating, as shown, immediately-above the central compartment of the drawer 3. This central compartment is divided into a front and back portion, the' back portion being adapted to receive those checks which fall into the central pocket (bearingtally-number 3, Fig. 1,) between the flanking deecting-points. The

up'per side of the base-board 5 is shrouded or covered by a semicircular top 10,.the inner edge of which causes the checkto vtake a rounded course or to fall away from it, accordin to the force with which it is propelled upwar y.

11 is a vertical passage at one side of the base-board, a similar passage 11 being provided at the other side by means of vertical walls 12 12, having on their inner sides projecting points 13 with intervening concave facesor any suitably-formed4 deflecting devices adapted to engage the edge-V of the check. A-

14 represents aseries of pins projecting outwardly from the front ofthe vinclined base 5, adapted to interfere and cause the check to take a zigzag course in its fall through the space 7.

15 is areceiving-case for the check mounted at one. side of the machine, havin a receiving-aperture 16 and a downward y and inwardly extending channel 17 opening into IOO case 15 and provided at its upper portion e with a projecting terminal 23, extendin across the aperture 16, but toward one en thereof, so as to interfere with the free passage of the checkin enterin 4 24 is a shifting bar slidinly mounted upon pins passing through slots 2 5 and adapted to have a limited range olf movement, said bar 24 being provided with downwardly and inwardly extending interfering tongues-or pins 26. These vinterfering-pins are adapted to IIO lnormally extend across the area of the counting-pockets formed by a series of verticallyarranged defiecting pins or partitions 27. The pockets between such points, across which these fingers project, are those which count in the game and are identified by the tally-numbers 2 2 3 2 2, Fig. 1, whereas the intervening pockets, which are open clear through to the receiving-drawer, are provided with Zero (o) marks, as is also the blank passages 11.

28 is a shifting bar mounted across the back of the base-board 5 at its upper portion and provided with an arresting-pin 29, adapted to interfere with any checks thrown up into the pocket 8, (tally-number 5,) and it will thus be seen that in all of the tally-numbered pockets the check will be arrested and exposed to view before being released and dropped into the drawer. The shifting plate 28 and its pin 29 are connected with the shifting plate 24 by a lever 30, pivoted at the back of the base-board 31.

32 is a link connecting slide-bar 24 with the lower end of lever 21, and it will thus be seen that when a check is inserted through aperture 16 and forced against the lip 23 it will. draw all of the arresting-points backwardly, thus releasing any check which may be suspended at any point by any one of them. The check then passes down into the range of the shooter, and the arresting-points are thrown back to their normal arresting position by a spring 33, Fig. 6, the travel of the plates being limited by any suitable abutment, as the supporting-pins passing through slots 25.v

In Fig. 4 I show a modified construction whereby the partition-blades or arrestingpoints 27 are rendered adjustable by means of thumb-screws 34, extending through horizontal slots 35 in the bottom of the baseboard 5, whereby the points 27 may be adjusted to the right or left and there secured. The curved top is held downwardly, securing the parts together by bolts 36, engaging clips 37 and provided with terminal thumbnuts 38, having a binding engagement with locking-abutments 39 in the interior of the end walls, said abutments being preferably slotted to facilitate disengagement. These bolts are not accessible except from the interior upon opening the locked drawer, thus eifectually preventing tampering with the machine.

The operation is as follows: A check having been introduced through aperture 16, forcing the lever 21 back and releasing any previous check which may have been arrested after playing, the check then drops to rest on the converging walls of passage 11 and the operator strikes downwardly upon the iinger-piece 20, throwing the knocker 18 upwardly with considerable force, which projects the check upwardly through passage 1 1 and into open space 7 between the base 5 and the glass front `6. Depending u )on the force of the propulsion, the check will then either pass entirely around to the other side and enter passage 11, or it will `fall into the pocket 8 or downwardly in a zizzag course between pins 14 and into any one of the blank or tally pockets between the points 27. A record is thus kept of each shot, each player operating the machine one or more times, and in this manner a complete tally or count is kept of each operation.

The aparatus is also adapted to use in connection with the sale of any vendible coinmodity, as cigars, candy, &c., in which case it may, if desired, be so arranged as to avoid the use of any blank passages whatever by providing pins 26, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 so as to arrest the check or coin, if a coin is used, and all of the pockets may be appropriately numbered with tally-numbers, so as to indicate the value of the shot. The number of pockets, their location, and. vaiious other details of construction may be changed or varied by the skilled mechanic but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is* 1. A game apparatus consisting of a vertically-arranged slanting front or base board provided with a series of interfering-pins, vertical side walls terminating in a semicircular top, a front plate of transparentmaterial providing a narrow intervening space between it and the base-board, inner vertical partitions providing channels between the end walls and the inner main space, deiiecting-pins providing receiving-chainiels, a receiving-pocket located in the upper portion of the baseboard, a movable cover-plate and tongues arranged to cover said pocket and receivingchannels, and means for projecting a playingcheck upwardly through one of said vertical channels, substantially as set forth.

2. A game apparatus consisting of a vertically-arranged slanting front or base board provided with a series of interfering-pins,ver tical side walls terminating in a seinicircular top, a front plate of transparent material providing a narrow intervening space between it and the base-board, inner vertical partitions providing channels between the end walls and the inner main space, a series of receiving-pockets at the bottom of the baseboard, means for temporarily obstructing some of said pockets, an endmost channe provided at the bottom with inwardly-deflected check-supporting sides, an entranceslot leading into said endmost channel, and a pivoted shooting-knoeker located below the terminal of said channel, substantially as set forth.

3. A gaine apparatus consisting of a verticallyTarranged slanting front or base board provided with receiving-pockets, a ooveiplate therefor of transparent material provid- IOO ing an intervening space, a vertical channel leading u Wardly into said space and provided wit inwardly-deflected lower terminal walls, a ivoted counterweighted shootingknocker ocatedat the base of said channel, an entrance-chute leading into said channel, a series of supporting-pins arranged below some of the receiving-pockets, and actuating devices therefor, substantially as set forth.

tween the end walls and the inner main space, deiecting-pins roviding receiving-channels,

areceiving-poo et located in the upper por- -tion of the base-board, a movable cover-plate therefor and a series of tongues arranged to interceptl the passage between ysome of said receiving-channels, means for actuating said plate and tongues, and a counterweighted shooter-arm, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. MGDOWELL. p

Witnesses;

JAs.-J. MGAFEE, C. M. CLARKE. l 

